HOW TO GET MARRIED IN ITALY AS AN AMERICAN: SIMPLE STEPS

Your Comprehensive Guide to Saying “Si” in Italy

Dream of saying “I do” amidst rolling Tuscan hills or on a romantic Amalfi Coast? This guide unveils every step for Americans to get married in Italy, making your Italian wedding dream a reality, from paperwork to perfect venues.

Ciao Amici! We are Silvia and Marco, wedding photographers in Rome and Italy! We’re from CoscarellaPhoto, and we love taking pictures of weddings all over Italy and Europe. We know how amazing it is to get married in Italy, especially for couples from America.

Planning a wedding in another country, like getting married in Italy, can feel a little scary. There’s paperwork, and things might be different from what you’re used to. But don’t worry! How to get married in Italy as an American doesn’t have to be hard. Think of this guide as your easy-to-follow plan. We’re going to explain everything you need to know. From thinking “We want to get married in Italy!” to saying “Si!” under the Italian sunshine, and even what to do after you’re married.

We’ll talk about the important things: dealing with the paperwork – yes, there’s some Italian paperwork (but it’s not too bad!), understanding the different kinds of weddings you can have, picking the best wedding location in Italy, and making sure your marriage is legal back in the US. Plus, we’ll share some easy tips to make planning easier.

Ready to start your Italian wedding story? Let’s see how to get married in Italy as an American, step by step!

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Table of Contents

First Things to Think About and Plan

Planning a wedding, especially a wedding in Italy, starts with dreaming a little, and then doing some practical steps. Let’s look at the first important things to think about.

Types of Wedding Ceremonies in Italy

When you dream about getting married in Italy, you need to decide what kind of wedding you want. Understanding the types of wedding ceremonies in Italy is the first thing to do. You can choose between civil and religious weddings.

Civil weddings are legal and done by a mayor or someone official in a town hall. They are usually easier when it comes to documents. Town halls in Italy are often very beautiful old buildings!

Religious weddings are done by a priest or religious leader. If you want a Catholic wedding (very popular in Italy), there are special rules, which we’ll talk about later. Remember, if you want a religious wedding that is not Catholic to be legal in Italy, you need to have a civil wedding first. This is important to know when thinking about how to get married in Italy as an American, to make sure your wedding is legal in both countries.

Choosing Your Wedding Location

Location is so important! When getting married in Italy, choosing your location is like picking the perfect scene for your love story. Choosing a wedding location is a very exciting part of planning!

For civil weddings, town halls are the usual places, but many towns also offer nicer places, like villas, castles, or gardens for civil weddings! Don’t just think about town halls – look online for amazing places to get married in Italy. Imagine vineyards in Tuscany, beaches on the Amalfi Coast, or old palaces in Rome.

If you are wondering how to get married in Italy as a foreigner, remember that popular wedding spots get booked fast, especially in spring and summer. Start looking and booking your location early – as soon as you know your wedding date is best!

Wedding Planner

Let’s talk about your secret helper for getting married in Italy as an American: a local wedding planner! Having a local wedding planner is super helpful. They are like wedding experts, especially when you’re planning a wedding in another country.

A good Italian wedding planner can help with everything from paperwork for getting married in Italy as a foreigner to planning and organizing everything. They speak Italian, they know the rules in Italy, and they know the best people to work with. They can handle the Nulla Osta (a document we’ll explain soon), deal with the local offices, and even make sure your pre-wedding drinks are perfect.

We’ve seen wedding planners do amazing things – make things so easy when they could be stressful. They are so worth it – like having wedding superheroes!

Seriously, if you’re wondering how to get married in Italy and want less stress, get a planner!

Setting a Wedding Budget

Let’s talk about money. Love is free, but weddings… cost money. It’s important to set a budget for your wedding in Italy. How much getting married in Italy as a US citizen costs depends on the place, location, and kind of wedding you want. Big cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice are usually more expensive than smaller towns.

Think about what’s most important to you. Do you want a fancy location, great food, or amazing photos (we hope so!)? Decide what to spend more money on. Remember, costs can be very different depending on the city in Italy. Research prices in the area you choose. Getting prices from different vendors is key to plan affordable destination weddings. Don’t forget to think about travel and places to stay for you and your guests if you’re having a bigger wedding.

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Documents You Need (Before Leaving the US)

Okay, get ready – it’s document time! Don’t worry, it’s just a step-by-step process. Let’s look at the documents you need to get in the US before you go to get married in Italy as an American.

Valid U.S. Passport

First, make sure your passport is good and won’t expire soon! A valid U.S. passport is needed for getting married in Italy as a foreigner. Check the date it expires before your trip and renew it if you need to. Don’t let your passport stop your Italian wedding dream!

If you are in the military, it’s a bit different. You might be able to use your military ID and permission from your boss to get married. But, it’s best to check what exactly you need with the Italian embassy and your military office.

Long-Form Birth Certificate

You need your official birth certificate. An original or certified copy of a long-form birth certificate with your parents’ full names is needed to get married in Italy. “Long-form” is important – it’s the one with more details, like your parents’ names. Order a certified copy from the right office in your state if you don’t have it.

Proof of End of Previous Marriage(s)

This is important if you were married before. If this applies, you need to provide original divorce papers, annulment papers, or death certificates to show that your previous marriage ended. Italian offices need proof that you are legally able to marry again.

There’s also a special Italian rule to know about: women whose previous marriage ended in the last 300 days may have special requirements (it’s called the “widowhood period”). This is to avoid confusion about who the father of a baby is, if they were to get pregnant soon after marrying again. If this applies to you, you might need to get special permission (dispensa) from an Italian court. Your wedding planner or the Italian Embassy can help you with this.

Apostille and Translations

Here comes a slightly more official, but necessary step: Apostille and translations are key when you think about how to get married in Italy as an American. All your US documents (birth certificate, divorce papers, etc.) need to be “legalized” for Italy. This is done with an Apostille stamp.

An Apostille is like a special international stamp. It proves that the official stamp and signature on your US documents are real. You get it from the Secretary of State in the state where the document was issued.

After you get the Apostille, each document needs to be translated into Italian by a certified translator. In Italy, a “certified translator” is officially recognized by Italian courts or embassies. It’s important to use a recognized translator.

Tip: Sometimes, even the translation itself might need its own Apostille, especially if the translation is done in the US. Check with the Italian Embassy or your wedding planner to see if you need this when planning how to get married in Italy as an american.

Atto Notorio

The Atto Notorio is a sworn statement. It’s an important document you need to get before you go to Italy. This Atto Notorio is a statement saying you are legally allowed to marry according to US law and you get it at the Italian embassy in the US or in Italy. Think of it as your official “I’m single and ready to get married!” paper, in Italian.

You can get the Atto Notorio done at the Italian Embassy in the US before you travel, or sometimes in Italy at a court or with a notary. Doing it at the Embassy in the US is often easier.

You’ll also need two witnesses (not family) to sign the Atto Notorio with you. These witnesses must be over 18 and have a valid ID (like a passport or driver’s license). Contact the Italian Embassy near you to make an appointment and check exactly what you need and who can be a witness when you think about how to get married in Italy as an american.

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Documents You Need (When You Arrive in Italy)

Great, you’ve arrived in Italy! You’re getting closer to your wedding! But, there are still a few documents to get. Here’s what you need to do about documents once you arrive in Italy when thinking about how to get married in Italy as an american.

Nulla Osta (Affidavit)

The Nulla Osta is a very important document for how to get married in Italy as a foreigner. This Nulla Osta (Affidavit) is a paper that says there’s no reason why you can’t get married according to US law. You get this in Italy at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. It basically tells the Italian government, “Yes, these Americans are free to marry!”.

To get your Nulla Osta, you need to make an appointment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Italy closest to where you are getting married. Both of you need to go in person to make a sworn statement to an official from the US government, saying you are free to marry. You’ll need your passport and your long-form birth certificate (with the Apostille and translation!).

Legalizing the Nulla Osta at the Prefettura

After you get your Nulla Osta from the US Embassy, there’s one more step to make it officially okay for the Italian government: the Nulla Osta needs to be legalized at the local Prefettura (which is like a local government office).

This step is usually quite simple. You’ll go to the Prefettura in the area where you’re getting married with your Nulla Osta. You’ll need to buy marca da bollo (revenue stamps), which are like tax stamps. How much they cost and where to buy them can change, so ask the Prefettura for help. This step is like getting an Italian government stamp on your US Nulla Osta.

Declaration of Intention to Marry (Dichiarazione di Matrimonio)

Almost there! The last document step in Italy is the Dichiarazione di Matrimonio, or Declaration of Intention to Marry. You make this formal statement at the Comune (town hall) in the city where your wedding will be, usually a few days before the wedding.

Both of you will need to go to the Ufficio di Stato Civile (Registry Office) at the town hall to say you want to get married. You’ll show all your documents – passport, birth certificate (Apostilled and translated), legalized Nulla Osta, and Atto Notorio.

You might need an interpreter if you don’t speak Italian well. The town hall will guide you through the process. It’s a formal declaration that you are going to marry each other. This gets everything ready for your actual wedding day!

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Marriage Ceremony and After the Wedding

The big day is coming! You’ve gotten through the documents, and now it’s time for the best part – your wedding ceremony in Italy! And what happens afterwards, of course. Let’s look at the Wedding Ceremony and what to do Post-Wedding when thinking about how to get married in Italy as an american.

Civil Banns (Pubblicazioni di Matrimonio)

Civil banns are public notices put up at the town hall for two weeks before a civil wedding. It’s Italy’s way of making sure everyone knows you are getting married and that there are no legal reasons why you shouldn’t.

But, good news for foreigners: often, you don’t need these banns if neither of you is Italian or living in Italy. Because you are getting married in Italy as a US citizen, you probably won’t need this. The town hall will confirm this when you do your Declaration of Intention to Marry. This saves you some time.

The Marriage Ceremony

Time to say “Si!” Civil weddings for getting married in Italy are done by a mayor or an official from the town hall. They are usually in Italian, but you can have someone translate if you need. The wedding ceremony is often quite simple, but you can make it more personal with readings or vows.

Religious weddings, like we said before, are done by a priest or religious leader. If you’re having a Catholic wedding, it will be more traditional and maybe longer, in a church. For other religions, make sure the person doing the wedding is recognized by Italian law to do legal weddings.

We really love Italian wedding ceremonies, civil or religious! They are full of feeling, and in such beautiful places. Taking pictures of these moments for couples is so wonderful.

Witnesses for the Marriage

You need two witnesses at your wedding ceremony in Italy. These can be friends, family, or even people you hire if you need. Witnesses must be over 18 and have a valid ID (passport is best). Tell your witnesses they have a role and to have their IDs ready for the ceremony.

Marriage Registration

After the wedding, it’s time to make it really official with the Italian government. Your wedding must be registered with the local offices to be legal in Italy.

For civil weddings, the town hall usually takes care of the registration right away. They record your marriage in the official books.

If you have a religious wedding, it’s the job of the religious leader (priest, etc.) to register the wedding. They need to send the papers to the town hall within a certain time after the ceremony. Check with them to make sure they will do this important step.

Marriage Certificate

Getting your official marriage certificate (Certificato di Matrimonio) is very important after you get married in Italy as an American. This is your official paper that proves you got married in Italy.

After your wedding is registered, you can ask for your marriage certificate from the town hall where you got married. It’s a good idea to get a “estratto per riassunto dell’atto di matrimonio”, which is a version of the certificate for international use.

To make it valid in the US, it’s good to get your Italian marriage certificate legalized with an Apostille at the Prefettura (the same office where you legalized your Nulla Osta!). This makes sure your marriage is recognized in the US and by any other organizations that need proof you are married.

Is Your Marriage Valid in the U.S.?

Good news: a wedding in Italy is generally recognized as valid in the United States! If you follow all the Italian legal steps and your marriage is correctly registered in Italy, the US will accept it. You don’t need to get married again in the US to make it legal at home!

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Other Important Things to Know

To finish up and make sure you’re totally ready for how to get married in Italy as an American, let’s think about a few more details.

Age Rules

Like in the US, there are age rules for marriage. The youngest you can be to get married in Italy is 18 years old. However, in Italy, you can get married at 16 if you have your parents’ permission and permission from a court. If either of you is under 18, you’ll need to check this special rule and get the needed permissions.

Same-Sex Marriages

Italy legally recognizes same-sex marriages. Same-sex couples can get married in Italy with civil unions (unioni civili). The process is very similar to civil marriage, with the same document needs for foreigners. Civil unions are legally recognized as marriage in many ways in Italy.

Where You Live (Residency)

Where you live can matter. If one of you lives in Italy, there are more steps for announcing the wedding which means a longer banns process. Since you are getting married in Italy as an American, and probably neither of you live in Italy, this likely doesn’t apply to you. But, always double-check with the town hall if you are unsure about residency rules.

How Much Time to Plan

Planning a wedding takes time, and planning a wedding in another country… takes a bit more time! Start planning your wedding in Italy at least 4-6 months before you want to get married. This gives you enough time to get documents, handle the Atto Notorio, Nulla Osta, and all the other planning details.

Specifically, the Atto Notorio should be less than 3 months old before your wedding, and the Nulla Osta should be obtained no more than one month before. These documents are only valid for a short time, so timing is important.

How Long Documents Are Valid

Keep an eye on the dates of your documents. Documents from outside Italy (like your birth certificate and divorce papers) are usually only valid for six months from when they were issued by many Italian town halls and embassies. Don’t get your documents too early, as they might expire before your wedding in Italy!

Extra Rules for Catholic Weddings

If you’re planning a Catholic wedding in Italy, there are extra steps. These extra rules for Catholic weddings include getting baptism and confirmation papers, a pre-wedding interview, and maybe pre-marriage classes. Contact the church in Italy where you want to get married and your local priest early to understand all the documents and classes needed. Catholic churches in Italy often have specific document needs and timeframes.

Using Translators

Language problem? No problem! You might need an official translator (interprete) during the legal steps if you don’t speak Italian. This is especially true for the Declaration of Intention to Marry at the town hall and maybe for your civil ceremony. Town halls can usually give you a list of translators. Your wedding planner can also help you find a good translator.

Getting Italian Citizenship

Just to be clear: if you are a US citizen, you do not automatically become an Italian citizen just by marrying an Italian citizen. But, you might be able to apply for Italian citizenship through marriage after some time (usually 2 years living in Italy after marriage, or 3 years if you live outside Italy). If you want Italian citizenship, you need to look into the specific rules and application process separately – it’s different from just how to get married in Italy as an american!

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CoscarellaPhoto - Editorial & Candid Wedding Photographer in Rome and Italy

Your Italian Wedding Dream Is Waiting!

So, there you have it – your simple guide on how to get married in Italy as an American! Yes, there is some paperwork, but trust us, saying “Si” in one of the most beautiful countries in the world is totally worth it!

From picking your dream wedding location in Italy, to dealing with the Nulla Osta and those tax stamps, you now have the information to make your Italian wedding happen. Remember to start early, think about getting a wedding planner to make things easier, and enjoy every moment of this amazing journey!

Planning a wedding in another country might seem like a big challenge, but when you get to the top – saying your vows in Italy – the view is incredible! And as your photographers, we’d be so happy to capture those amazing moments for you!

Ready to capture those memories? Contact us! At CoscarellaPhoto, we specialize in photographing dream weddings in Rome and across Italy. Let’s talk about your needs for a Rome Engagement Photographer, your ideas for your special day, or even a Rome elopement photographer for a small wedding. You can find our contact info at the bottom of this page. We’d love to hear from you and help make your Italian wedding photos perfect.

For more tips on how to get married in Italy as an American, check out these insightful articles from other sources:

We can’t wait to hear about your Italian love story! Arrivederci e Auguri! (Goodbye and Best Wishes!)